| Telescope / Lens | TMB 80mm f/6, Tele Vue 0.8 reducer f/4.8 |
| Mount Type | Astro-Physics 1200 |
| Camera | SBIG ST10XME , KAF3200 |
| Filters | Astro-Don LRGB Generation 2 |
| Film | CCD, NABG |
| Exposure | LRGB of 3 hours 15 minutes (L=2 hours 15 minutes.; color 60 minutes) -20° C |
| Processing | CCDSoft, CCDStack & Photoshop CS6 |
| Date | 04/20/2018 |
| Location | Jupiter Ridge # 4, (OCA Anza Site) |
| Conditions | 4321 ′ magnitude 5.8 20.85 SQM |
Markarian’s Chain of Galaxies part of the Virgo Cluster, form a smooth curve and is named after the American Astrophysicist Benjamin Markarian. He discovered the common motion of the members in the 1960’s. Charles Messier discover M84 (NGC 4374) & M86 (NGC 4406) in 1781, both of which are elliptical or lenticular type galaxies. M84 at magnitude 10 (60 Mly) and M86 at 8.9 (52 Mly). The main galaxies include M84 (NGC 4374), M86 (NGC 4406), NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435
The upper left Super Giant Elliptical Galaxy is M87, on of the most massive galaxies of the local group. It has approximate 12,000 globular clusters compared to our Milky Way’s 150-200.
Markarian’s Chain of Galaxies is a delight to view in larger instruments. Using telescope of 14 inches or more in aperture are really satisfying. Use a wide angle eyepiece of 26-50mm focal length to get the full impression of this galactic Cluster.
Early Spring is the best tome to view the Constellation Virgo, The Virgo Galaxy Cluster and Markarian’s Chain of Galaxies.